Arsenal are about to add to their defence with the expected signing of Bologna star, Riccardo Calafiori.
Mikel Arteta’s side had the best defence during the recently concluded campaign, conceding only 29 goals and scoring the second-most at 91.
Despite that, Arsenal still lost out to Manchester City in the Premier League title race, so they know that they now have to go to extra lengths to dethrone Pep Guardiola.
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They clearly feel making their defence even stronger is the way to go, with sources telling HITC that Arsenal have reached a broad agreement to sign Calafiori.
Last season was Calafiori’s best, in terms of game time and progression, as he played close to 3,000 minutes in all competitions.
The Italy international, who started three of his side’s four games at Euro 2024, has operated mainly as a centre-back, but he can also perform the left-back role.
All of this will be music to the ears of the Arsenal fans, but ‘a few worries’ were quickly put to bed by Julien Laurens.
For several seasons, Calafiori has had injury issues and struggled to finish the entire campaign, but Laurens did highlight ‘that can happen’, as he told ESPN.
The European football expert also stated it can also ‘happen when you are young and then never again’, as Arsenal fans will be hoping all his injury issues are behind him.
It does need to be noted that he is only 22, so his body is only getting stronger and he did have his best season yet.
Riccardo Calafiori’s injury record
“I know there are a few worries about his fitness and the fact that he had some big injuries really young,” said Laurens.
“But that can happen. It can happen when you are young, then never again in your career, so I don’t think you should base everything on that, on like injury list or injury history, for example.”
Who will leave Arsenal ahead of Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival?
The books need to be balanced because Arsenal will now have serious depth at the back, especially at left-back.
The return of Jurrien Timber will feel like a new signing after he missed 99% of the previous campaign through injury.
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Arsenal have been told to keep Jakub Kiwior and sell Oleksandr Zinchenko instead, which would probably be a wise move.
Arsenal now have players who can play that inverted role, including Calafiori ahead of his arrival and Timber.
That then puts more emphasis on Zinchenko’s defending and he simply hasn’t been good enough from that aspect.
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